Every October, parents become amateur anthropologists, scouring the internet for a Halloween costume that will satisfy one small, extremely opinionated client. (Or, more likely, researching a request for a character we’ve never heard of.) 

Now, Google has put all that frantic searching into one place. Its new site, Frightgeist, tracks which costumes are top ranked in search, and the kids’ top ten for 2026 is a gloriously incoherent collection. We’ve got a country legend we’re still mourning, a Thriller-era King of Pop, a web-cartoon jester, and, with no explanation offered, a dumpling.

There’s no tidy theme to sum it up, and I’ve stopped trying. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s top costumes, along with advice for putting a look together. 

Top trending kids costumes according to Google

Dolly Parton

It just makes sense that our dearly departed Saint of Tennessee comes in at No 1. And since Dolly sported so many iconic looks across a long parade of eras, you have the opportunity to seem like you’re presenting your child with options even when there’s a solid chance this was your idea, not theirs. The only must is a blonde wig that defies gravity. A stuffed bra is optional but encouraged–Dolly would have wanted it that way.

Ella Langley

Makes sense she’s spiking, since she’s leading this year’s CMA nominations with nine nods and “Choosin’ Texas” made her the only woman to top the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts at once. That said, I’ll be honest. Unless said trick-or-treater is belting out “Choosin’ Texas,” this costume will be lost on me. But any excuse to pile on some rhinestones is a good one. (See above.)

Dumpling

The lone non-celebrity in the lineup and, I’d wager, the only costume on this list your kid actually chose for themselves. Chalk it up to the squishy dumpling toys, the brightly colored, bamboo-steamer-packaged squishies that have been dominating TikTok and every kid’s pocket this year. On the plus side, the costume is cozy, warm, and fully nap-compatible. No notes.

Shakira

Between her two World Cup performances last summer and the early-2000s revival in full swing, she was overdue. I recently combed the attic for my old low-rise jeans, the ones with the half-inch zipper, because my teenage daughter asked for them in earnest. The horror.

Ash Ketchum (from Pokémon)

Pokémon turns 30 this year, which makes it officially old enough to have trained a generation of parents before becoming their kids’ obsession. Give them a backwards red cap, tuck a Pikachu they already own under one arm, and you’ve got the cheapest, most comfortable costume on the list. Additionally, they’ll be recognizable to every other kid on the block which, for better or worse, is more than I can say for the country singers above.

Hannah Montana

The show hit its 20th anniversary this year, which means the early-aughts kids who wore out the DVDs are now the ones doing the costume shopping. And if you need another reason to love the pick, Miley is Dolly’s goddaughter, which makes number one and number six a true family affair.

Spider-Gwen

Worth noting that the lone superhero to crack this entire top ten is a woman who also drums in a punk rock band. That’s the kind of role model I can get behind. Spider-Man? Old news. And there’s no new movie to credit here, which means the kids are picking her on pure merit.

Michael Jackson (Thriller Era)

Specifically the Thriller era, so we’re talking red leather jacket and at least a loose attempt at the choreography. If your kid can pull off the zombie shoulder roll, they’ll absolutely crush this one. Credit the Antoine Fuqua biopic, “Michael,” that hit theaters last spring and put the moonwalk back in heavy rotation. 

Pomni (from The Amazing Digital Circus)

Admittedly, I had to look this one up. Turns out, she’s a jester trapped in a digital circus having a slow-motion existential crisis, which tells you this is for the tween and up set–not the toddlers. If your kid is asking for it, they’re too old for the cute stuff and whether you knew it or not, you’re officially in a new stage of parenting. The hat is non-negotiable, though.

Grogu

Baby Yoda by any other name, and still the single most efficient way to make a small child look even smaller and more adorable. The ears make it truly irresistible and though your stroller may not float, it can still be part of the costume. 

And there you have it. Ten costumes, roughly four decades, and one dumpling. Whoever your child opts into being this year, may the wig defy gravity and the candy be plentiful.